Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz clinch first United Cup win over Canada with mixed victory

Team USA won their first tie of the 2025 United Cup early Monday morning, Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz pairing up to clinch a mixed doubles victory over Leylah Fernandez and Félix Auger-Aliassime, 7-6 (2), 7-5.

The mixed doubles victory earned the United States a 2-1 win over Canada, putting them in pole position to advance out of Group A and into the knockout stage in Perth.

Gauff was first on the board earlier in the evening in women’s singles, the reigning WTA Finals champion sweeping aside Fernandez, 6-3, 6-2 to win her first match of the 2025 season. Fritz looked to complete the Canadian sweep when he won the first set over Auger-Aliassime but the former world No. 6 turned the tables on Fritz to throw the tie into a decisive mixed doubles match.

Canada had gotten on the board on Sunday when they defeated Croatia 2-1, winning their mixed doubles match in straight sets over Lucija Ciric Bagaric and Ivan Dodig, but couldn’t repeat the feat against Gauff and Fritz, who won in straight sets.

Both Gauff and Fritz are coming off superb finishes to their 2024 seasons, winning and reaching the final of their respective year-end championships. Fritz made his first Grand Slam final at the US Open and came within a win of a Nitto ATP Finals victory, losing both times to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.

Team USA will next face Croatia in the final Group A tie of the week, Fritz scheduled to face Borna Coric while Gauff will take on Donna Vekic, who defeated the young American last summer at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

Earlier in the day, the Czech Republic defeated Norway 2-1 in Group B while the Italians blanked Team Switzerland 3-0, Jasmine Paolini allowing comeback kid Belinda Bencic just two games in women's singles.